The 47-year-old TV presenter – who fronts BBC One’s The Graham Norton Show – explained there is always competition among chat show hosts to secure the juiciest guests, regardless of who is billed against who in the ratings.

He told BANG Showbiz: ‘There’s always competition for guests, it doesn’t matter who you are, when your show is on, what time or what channel. It’s always a scrum to try and get guests.

‘I’m not threatened by other hosts. You just have to try and make the show the best you possibly can. Is Alan Carr gayer than I am? I don’t know. We could have some kind of gay-off and find out!’

Graham Norton says it’s a ‘scrum’ to get guests for chat shows (PA)

The Irish comedian is also commentating on this year’s coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest for the BBC and while he thinks the UK has a good shot at the competition with boyband Blue, he worries about Ireland’s entry – X Factor rejects Jedward.

Speaking at last night’s Royal Television Society Awards at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, Graham added: ‘Blue are really well-known around Europe so it looks as though we’re taking it seriously this year. We might do alright.

‘I just worry about Jedward – those two boys alone in Dusseldorf? I can’t see it going too well.’